Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

Early in his sales career, Shawn French struggled with crushing anxiety and fear of failure that nearly pushed him to quit and return to coaching baseball. Under pressure to provide for his family, a pivotal question from his boss about what he would tell his son sparked a profound mindset shift. He confronted the psychological patterns holding him back, became a top 1% salesperson, and built a thriving personal brand in his 40s. In this episode, Shawn shares the psychology of overcoming self-limiting beliefs and reveals the habits behind unstoppable success and personal development.

In this episode, Hala and Shawn will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:16) Overcoming Paralyzing Anxiety in Sales

(06:49) Why Authenticity Matters While Selling

(09:05) His Journey into Creator Entrepreneurship 

(13:36) Building a Personal Brand Despite Naysayers

(19:12) The Five Habits of Unstoppable Success

(27:39) The Role of Motivation and Discipline

(31:56) Developing Peak Performance Routines

(36:10) Building a Creator Business From Scratch

Shawn French is a high-performance coach, keynote speaker, and founder and host of The Determined Society Podcast. He is the author of Unstoppable, where he outlines a foundational self-improvement process for achieving peak performance through five core habits. Through his work, Shawn helps individuals unlock the mental toughness, discipline, and intentionality needed to thrive in business and life.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING 

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. 

Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever.

Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap

Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/profiting and get 30% off their Framer Pro annual plan.

Intuit QuickBooks - Start the new year strong and take control of your cash flow at QuickBooks.com/money 

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting  

Working Genius - Take the Working Genius assessment and discover your natural gifts and thrive at work. Go to workinggenius.com and get 20% off with code PROFITING

Resources Mentioned:

Shawn's Book, Unstoppable: bit.ly/-Unstoppable 

Shawn’s Podcast, The Determined Society: bit.ly/TDS-apple 

Shawn’s Website: thedeterminedsociety.com 

Shawn’s Instagram: instagram.com/theshawnfrench 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Positivity, Human Nature, Human Psychology, Critical Thinking, Robert Greene, Chris Voss, Robert Cialdini

At age 15, Dr. Maya Shankar suffered a devastating hand injury that abruptly ended her promising violin career and shattered her sense of identity. Forced to reimagine a future beyond music, she turned to cognitive and behavioral science to understand how humans navigate unexpected change. That path led her to President Obama’s White House, where she applied human behavior insights to influence policy and improve decision-making at scale. In this episode, Dr. Maya reveals the power of human psychology and how small mindset shifts can help us make better decisions when life doesn’t go as planned.

In this episode, Hala and Dr. Maya will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:13) Dr. Maya’s Early Life and Violin Journey

(11:04) What Is Behavioral and Cognitive Science?

(21:23) The Sunk Cost Fallacy Explained

(26:55) Her Impact at the White House 

(37:24) Understanding the Power of Nudging

(43:43) Why Changing Minds Is So Difficult

(46:24) Practical Nudging Tactics for Everyday Decisions

(50:12) Decision-Making Biases You Need to Know

(54:32) A Slight Change of Plans Podcast Mission

Dr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She currently serves as Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google and previously founded the White House Behavioral Science Team under President Obama, where she served as a Senior Advisor. Dr. Maya completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Stanford, earned a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and holds a B.A. from Yale.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting 

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. 

Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever.

Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap

Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/profiting and get 30% off their Framer Pro annual plan.

Intuit QuickBooks - Start the new year strong and take control of your cash flow at QuickBooks.com/money 

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting  

Working Genius - Take the Working Genius assessment and discover your natural gifts and thrive at work. Go to workinggenius.com and get 20% off with code PROFITING

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Maya's Podcast, A Slight Change of Plans: bit.ly/ASCOP-apple 

Dr. Maya's Website: mayashankar.com

Nudge by Cass Sunstein: bit.ly/-Nudge 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Positivity, Human Nature, Critical Thinking, Robert Greene, Chris Voss, Robert Cialdini

Now on Spotify Video! Many leaders think burnout is solved by better time management, when the real issue is role alignment. When people spend most of their day doing work that drains their energy, productivity stalls, and teamwork suffers. In this episode, presented by Working Genius, Hala Taha and Patrick Lencioni break down the Working Genius framework, showing how individuals can identify the type of work that fuels them, rather than exhausts them. They also reveal team-building strategies for matching people to their natural strengths, reducing friction, improving synergy, and driving long-term success.

In this episode, Hala and Patrick will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction and Warm-Up

(13:55) The Burnout Barometer Activity

(21:15) The Problem With Modern Work

(31:16) The Birth of the Working Genius Framework

(43:50) The Six Types of Working Genius

(01:02:49) Hala and Pat’s Working Genius Results

(01:14:32) Understanding Your Working Genius Results

(01:25:37) Building Work Around Your Productivity Strengths

(01:41:18) Leveraging Working Genius for Team Building

(01:52:54) Common Friction Areas in Workplace Dynamics

(02:10:57) Q&A Section

Working Genius is a productivity and teamwork model created by Patrick Lencioni to address the root cause of workplace burnout and frustration. It has helped millions worldwide gain clarity, boost productivity, and build more effective teams by understanding their natural work strengths. Take the Working Genius assessment and get 20% off with code PROFITING at workinggenius.com. 

Sponsored By:

Working Genius: Take the Working Genius assessment and get 20% off with code PROFITING at workinggenius.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Working Genius Webinar Live Presentation: 

Patrick's Book, The Six Types of Working Genius: bit.ly/T6TOWG 

Patrick's Book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: bit.ly/-TFDOAT 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Disclaimer: This episode is a paid partnership with Working Genius. Sponsored content helps support our podcast and continue bringing valuable insights to our audience.

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Work-Life Balance, Work Life Balance, Motivation, Manifestation, Time Management, Life Balance, Goal Setting, Goals, Resolutions

Dr. Maya Shankar experienced devastating identity loss twice. First, a sudden injury ended her dreams of becoming a professional violinist; later, repeated miscarriages shattered her vision of motherhood. These losses forced her to confront how deeply she had tied her self-worth to specific roles and imagined futures. Drawing from cognitive science and human psychology, she learned to redefine her identity beyond self-imposed labels. In this episode, Maya explores the psychology of change, revealing why we experience “identity paralysis” when unexpected changes occur, and how we can use that to our advantage.

In this episode, Hala and Dr. Maya will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:59) Understanding Identity Paralysis 

(07:21) The Science Behind Change 

(17:00) Unlocking Potential Future Selves 

(24:09) The Difference Between Resilience and Reinvention 

(33:14) How Change Reshapes Values and Beliefs 

(36:56) Self-Affirmation Exercises That Boost Positivity

(40:40) The Change Toolkit: Navigating Life Transitions 

(57:16) Navigating the Messy Middle of Change 

(01:00:34) Mastering Career Pivots and Starting Fresh

Dr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She serves as Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google and previously founded the White House Behavioral Science Team under President Obama as a Senior Advisor. A Rhodes Scholar with a Ph.D. from Oxford and a B.A. from Yale, Dr. Maya completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. Her new book, The Other Side of Change, explores the psychology and stories behind life’s most disruptive transitions.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING 

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. 

Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever.

Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap

Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/profiting and get 30% off their Framer Pro annual plan.

Intuit QuickBooks - Start the new year strong and take control of your cash flow at QuickBooks.com/money 

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting  

Working Genius - Take the Working Genius assessment and discover your natural gifts and thrive at work. Go to workinggenius.com and get 20% off with code PROFITING

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Maya's Book, The Other Side of Change: bit.ly/TOSOC 

Dr. Maya's Podcast, A Slight Change of Plans: bit.ly/ASCOP-apple 

Dr. Maya’s Instagram: instagram.com/drmayashankar 

Dr. Maya's Website: mayashankar.com

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Habits, Human Nature, Critical Thinking, Robert Greene, Chris Voss, Robert Cialdini

Growing up in a frugal immigrant household, Ramit Sethi developed a scarcity-driven mindset and deep anxiety around money. After losing an investment in the stock market and studying both finance and psychology, he realized that most traditional financial advice ignores human behavior. Determined to break free from scarcity thinking, he rebuilt his relationship with money and began using it as a tool to design his own “rich life.” In this episode, Ramit shares how to rewire your money mindset, build wealth, and live a rich life.

In this episode, Hala and Ramit will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:19) His Background and Early Money Lessons

(09:39) Starting a Finance Blog in College

(15:25) What a “Rich Life” Really Means

(19:55) Money Psychology and Invisible Scripts

(24:33) Money Communication in Relationships

(29:27) The Conscious Spending Plan Framework

(42:08) Money Dials: Spending on What You Love

(48:29) Building Wealth and Finding Your Dream Job

(56:04) Saving Smarter and Earning More

Ramit Sethi is a New York Times bestselling author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich and the host of Netflix’s How to Get Rich. He has spent over 20 years teaching millions how to master personal finance, investing, and conscious spending. Ramit also hosts a finance podcast, Money for Couples, where he breaks down real-life money decisions through psychology-based frameworks. His work focuses on helping people design rich lives on their own terms.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING 

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. 

Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever.

Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap

Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/profiting and get 30% off their Framer Pro annual plan.

Intuit QuickBooks - Start the new year strong and take control of your cash flow at QuickBooks.com/money 

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting  

Working Genius - Take the Working Genius assessment and discover your natural gifts and thrive at work. Go to workinggenius.com and get 20% off with code PROFITING

Resources Mentioned:

Ramit's Book, I Will Teach You to Be Rich: bit.ly/IWTYTBR 

Ramit's Podcast, Money for Couples: bit.ly/MFC-apple 

Ramit’s Show, How to Get Rich: iwt.com/netflix 

Ramit's Website: iwillteachyoutoberich.com 

Ramit’s Instagram: instagram.com/ramit

Ramit’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ramitsethi

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Scalability, Risk Management, Financial Planning, Business Coaching